The Social Network for 3D Printers

The 3D printing industry seems to be taking off quite rapidly. More people are looking to design, prototype, iterate, and print their own products from the comfort of their own home or work environment. Though the maker world is thriving, 3D printers remain expensive -- lower-end models cost more than $1,000. While many people wait for printer prices to come down, a maker's expressive, design-oriented mind does not.

If you cannot afford a 3D printer, how can you possibly get access to one to flesh out your latest design? There is a clear and growing demand for an affordable (and preferably local) option, and makexyz may have the solution -- a social network for 3D printers.

Several companies, such as Shapeways and i.materialise, have taken note of the maker's dilemma and have established themselves as 3D printing marketplaces that bring high-quality printing services within the average consumer's reach. You can choose your preferred printing material and receive an instant quote that includes shipping anywhere in the world. However, these services, which are still in the developmental stage, do not meet the needs of designers who must obtain copies of their designs for immediate testing and iteration.

We recently discussed a plan by Staples to partner with Mcor and bring 3D printing services to the retail market. Users upload their design to the Staples website to have it printed, and they receive the results in the mail or at the nearest store. Unfortunately, the Mcor printer offers only glued-paper printing, and, to top it off, the Staples service is available only in Belgium and the Netherlands right now.

If established 3D printing services and an office supply chain can't solve the maker's dilemma, who can? The solution is actually rather simple. Like Airbnb's social service that connects travelers looking for a place to stay with people who have living space to spare, makexyz is connecting designers looking for 3D printing with available printers in their neighborhood.

Nathan Tone and Chad Masso created makexyz this year. Within a month and a half, more than 550 people had signed up for the service. People with 3D printers can create a printer profile, set their price ($/cm3), and wait for orders. Those looking for a printer simply browse by ZIP code, choose a printer that matches their preference (price, material, and color availability), and either pick up the product or have it delivered.

The founders have been careful to keep prices low. They are based on the design's volume and generally range from 25 cents to $1.50 per cubic centimeter. Shapeways' services start at around $0.75/cm3. Makexyz tacks on a 5 percent charge for its services, so most print jobs cost about $15.

Cabe, Nadine & Pubudu -- sorry for the late comment; had a busy week – but had to "chime-in", again after reading this threads. Pubudu seems certain of the benefit of social printers, but I think his opinion would change if he had the experience described by Cabe.

3D printers are just like anything else from Cars to Weed-whackers. They can be designed for heavy repetitive commercial use, or less expensive for occasional use. If you are running a design business and own one, it might seem lucrative to rent-out time on the machine; but you are the owner, manager, maintenance technician, and funding source for the device, and that takes hours away from your billable hours. Unless you specifically design your business model to allow for normal and expected maintenance, it's a losing proposition for you. But great for the borrowing neighbors, of course.

I once made a part for a company on my CNC mill. During the fabrication, I broke my mill. I went outside the cut area and damaged the servo drivers and fused a motor coil. Did they fix it? No... it was my fault.

I am sure 3D printer owners will not want to deal with mistakes and repair for 25 cents per CC. I wouldn't.

I saw a few 25 cent printers on there too. That is way cheap... I will have to see what kind of quality you get. I am sure the printer owners are not as professional, fast, or patient as a company that specializes in the process.

It would probably work as a service company -- much like a copy shop. Customers would have to pay quite a premium, but for users who only need the tool occasionally, it would be a big savings compared with owning a 3D printer.

Cabe thanks for the awareness article, its seems to be that they are reducing prices more, due to demand and increase the number of available printers now there are printers which will have the lover prices of 0.5$/cm3

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